Browsers and Their Features

Study Notes

Types of Browsers:
- Graphical browsers (e.g., Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox)
- Text-based browsers (e.g., Lynx)
- Mobile browsers (e.g., Safari, Chrome for Android)
Key Features:
- Rendering engine: converts HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into visual content
- Cache: stores frequently-visited websites to reduce loading times
- Cookies: small text files storing user preferences and authentication information
- Plug-ins and extensions: add functionality to the browser (e.g., ad blockers, password managers)
Browser Security:
- HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): encrypts data transmission between browser and server
- SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security): cryptographic protocols for secure data transmission
- Same-origin policy: restricts web pages from accessing resources from different origins

Network Topologies:
- Physical topologies: describe the physical arrangement of devices (e.g., bus, star, ring)
- Logical topologies: describe the flow of data between devices (e.g., broadcast, unicast, multicast)
Network Protocols:
- TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): suite of protocols for internetworking
- IPv4 and IPv6: address formats for identifying devices on a network
- DNS (Domain Name System): translates domain names to IP addresses
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): protocol for transferring data over the web
Network Devices:
- Routers: connect multiple networks and direct traffic between them
- Switches: connect multiple devices within a network and direct traffic between them
- Gateways: connect multiple networks and provide access to the internet
- Modems: connect devices to the internet via a broadband or dial-up connection

Types of browsers include graphical browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, text-based browsers like Lynx, and mobile browsers like Safari and Chrome for Android
Rendering engine is a key feature of browsers, converting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into visual content
Browsers use cache to store frequently visited websites, reducing loading times
Cookies are small text files that store user preferences and authentication information
Plug-ins and extensions can add functionality to browsers, such as ad blockers and password managers

HTTPS encrypts data transmission between browser and server, ensuring secure communication
SSL/TLS are cryptographic protocols that enable secure data transmission
Same-origin policy restricts web pages from accessing resources from different origins, preventing unauthorized access

Physical topologies describe the physical arrangement of devices in a network, including bus, star, and ring topologies
Logical topologies describe the flow of data between devices, including broadcast, unicast, and multicast
TCP/IP is a suite of protocols that enables internetworking, allowing devices to communicate with each other
IPv4 and IPv6 are address formats used to identify devices on a network
DNS translates domain names to IP addresses, enabling users to access websites using easy-to-remember domain names
HTTP is a protocol for transferring data over the web, enabling communication between clients and servers

Routers connect multiple networks and direct traffic between them, enabling data exchange between networks
Switches connect multiple devices within a network, directing traffic between them
Gateways connect multiple networks and provide access to the internet
Modems connect devices to the internet via broadband or dial-up connections